Shavehead Lake is a 93-acre mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 26 documented fish species including Black crappie, Blackchin shiner, and Blacknose shiner. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Shavehead Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 93 acres |
Where to stay near Shavehead Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shavehead Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.6 m/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 23 lakes in Cass County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Shavehead Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Explore Shavehead Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Michigan's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 9 ft
Van Buren County · Clarity: 8 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 8 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 6 ft
Van Buren County · Clarity: 8.3 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Shavehead Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Shavehead Lake Level Control Structure (completed 1960), built primarily for recreation on the Mud Creek; earth-type dam, 6 ft tall and 14.5 ft long.
- Surface area
- 93 ac
- Normal storage
- 260 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 320 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Cass County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00764 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-10-15
Monitoring stations: 1